Rick Barnes discussion (merged)

[Thunder Good-Oil]

So, once again, we are in a binary world of 'Barnes Haters' and 'Barnes Sycophants"??

Last night was an excellent effort, and whoever scouted Bama on our staff should get a paid day off. The scouting was masterful, the players played lights out, especially our bigs, and Barnes did an excellent job of in-game adjustments.

I say that as the poster who kinda started this last round of posts, and I do not think I am a 'hater', just trying to be realistic about the program. In any event, since I was in the slightest bit critical of Barnes, I am sure I am so labeled, so wanted to make an appearance and congratulate coach and the team for a great effort last night.

You may have not noticed, but there are a handful of posters that are relentless in their criticism of Barnes. It’s been almost 4 years since Barnes didn’t go to UCLA, but the comment that he made and the contract that he signed are brought up with EVERY loss.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

And I doubt that a day goes by without the rehashing of his not being in the last 16 still going in NCAATs.

 

[Vols8086]

You may have not noticed, but there are a handful of posters that are relentless in their criticism of Barnes. It’s been almost 4 years since Barnes didn’t go to UCLA, but the comment that he made and the contract that he signed are brought up with EVERY loss.

There are just as many on the other side that struggle to admit any sort of flaw the man has as a coach.

The extremists on both sides of this conversation are just as bad and annoying as the side they complain about.

 

[VolInNW]

And I doubt that a day goes by without the rehashing of his not being in the last 16 still going in NCAATs.

On that note, I honestly don't think he is a FF coach. He grinds his teams down during the year, and they are usually spent by March. This is not to say he is a bad coach, should be fired, etc. He is a very good coach. He has the program respected, ranked, and an SEC regular season power every year. That is not a bad place to be, period.

But, if your goal is a NCAA FF or NC, I just don't think he is the guy.

I'm torn. If we had Fulmer in as AD, I'd hold onto Barnes for dear life, b/c no one wanted that doofus to choose the next coach. I do think White would choose much more wisely, but any event where Barnes is considered to be 'fired' or run off, with him at this level, would be a very bad thing and a very bad look. I hope he voluntarily retires in 2-4 years, and he and White work together to find the coach that WILL take us to the FF.

Just my .02.

 

[volfanhill]

There are just as many on the other side that struggle to admit any sort of flaw the man has as a coach.

The extremists on both sides of this conversation are just as bad and annoying as the side they complain about.

The debate is dumb by both sides. He's a massive successful regular season coach. Even SEC tourney coach. He's struggled to win in the NCAA tourney.

 

[volfanhill]

On that note, I honestly don't think he is a FF coach. He grinds his teams down during the year, and they are usually spent by March. This is not to say he is a bad coach, should be fired, etc. He is a very good coach. He has the program respected, ranked, and an SEC regular season power every year. That is not a bad place to be, period.

But, if your goal is a NCAA FF or NC, I just don't think he is the guy.

I'm torn. If we had Fulmer in as AD, I'd hold onto Barnes for dear life, b/c no one wanted that doofus to choose the next coach. I do think White would choose much more wisely, but any event where Barnes is considered to be 'fired' or run off, with him at this level, would be a very bad thing and a very bad look. I hope he voluntarily retires in 2-4 years, and he and White work together to find the coach that WILL take us to the FF.

Just my .02.

He's been to a final four. By definition he's a final four coach.

 

[The Dog]

On that note, I honestly don't think he is a FF coach. He grinds his teams down during the year, and they are usually spent by March. This is not to say he is a bad coach, should be fired, etc. He is a very good coach. He has the program respected, ranked, and an SEC regular season power every year. That is not a bad place to be, period.

But, if your goal is a NCAA FF or NC, I just don't think he is the guy.

I'm torn. If we had Fulmer in as AD, I'd hold onto Barnes for dear life, b/c no one wanted that doofus to choose the next coach. I do think White would choose much more wisely, but any event where Barnes is considered to be 'fired' or run off, with him at this level, would be a very bad thing and a very bad look. I hope he voluntarily retires in 2-4 years, and he and White work together to find the coach that WILL take us to the FF.

Just my .02.

But, Barnes is a Final 4 coach. Done done it. I do feel like a player or 2 may get grinded down by the end of the season, by Barnes hard coaching and practicing. Still, they know what they are in for, on the player, imo.I have no doubt kids like ZZZ and Vescovi can handle it

 

[VolFreakJosh]

There’s very few “tough” coaches left that demands hard work from these young kids

Barnes knows exactly what he wants and he’s not going to change his philosophy.

Some kids can handle the challenge and some kids will run away from it.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing. He’s just an old school type of guy.

 

[Delmar]

You may have not noticed, but there are a handful of posters that are relentless in their criticism of Barnes. It’s been almost 4 years since Barnes didn’t go to UCLA, but the comment that he made and the contract that he signed are brought up with EVERY loss.

But, but, but don’t you realize he makes $5 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR?????

 

[VolInNW]

He's been to a final four. By definition he's a final four coach.

Who am I to argue with Chumlee??

I swear to goodness, Coach Heupel (who is AWESOME on all 7 continents) and Chumlee from Pawn Stars look so much alike in photographs I am never sure if you guys have an actual Heupel photo, or a photoshopped one with Chumlee.

He may look like Chumlee.....but he can flat out coach. So happy we have Heupel.

 

[DuckInAPen]

Then go to the Alabama Board and post it. LOL, It will calm their souls.

Maybe that's where our Legionaries went after the big win -- they sure didn't make their presence known here!

 

[JMSqb11]

On that note, I honestly don't think he is a FF coach. He grinds his teams down during the year, and they are usually spent by March. This is not to say he is a bad coach, should be fired, etc. He is a very good coach. He has the program respected, ranked, and an SEC regular season power every year. That is not a bad place to be, period.

But, if your goal is a NCAA FF or NC, I just don't think he is the guy.

I'm torn. If we had Fulmer in as AD, I'd hold onto Barnes for dear life, b/c no one wanted that doofus to choose the next coach. I do think White would choose much more wisely, but any event where Barnes is considered to be 'fired' or run off, with him at this level, would be a very bad thing and a very bad look. I hope he voluntarily retires in 2-4 years, and he and White work together to find the coach that WILL take us to the FF.

Just my .02.

I’ll say this. I don’t think Tennessee is a top 10 program in terms of perception and standing. Tennessee isn’t up there with the UK, KU, UNC, Duke, UCLA, etc jobs. We are better currently but I don’t think most coaches would be blown away to be considered for a job here compared to those others if the phone rang. However, Barnes has built a pipeline and has shown future coaches Tennessee has the money to compete nationally for their basketball coach.

I pray dearly that we are able to steal a coach in a way UNC made one call and took Roy from Kansas. White is a great AD. I hope when Barnes chooses to retire, we are aiming at the current time top coaches to steal first and foremost. I think trying to find the next up and comer to save a buck basically leaves a decade of program building to a coin flip.

 

[JMSqb11]

But, but, but don’t you realize he makes $5 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR?????

Having a program that is on autopilot to top ten seasons and the NCAAT every year compared to the Cuonzo and Donnie years is worth $5m alone.

 

[SGMVols]

I’ll say this. I don’t think Tennessee is a top 10 program in terms of perception and standing. Tennessee isn’t up there with the UK, KU, UNC, Duke, UCLA, etc jobs. We are better currently but I don’t think most coaches would be blown away to be considered for a job here compared to those others if the phone rang. However, Barnes has built a pipeline and has shown future coaches Tennessee has the money to compete nationally for their basketball coach.

I pray dearly that we are able to steal a coach in a way UNC made one call and took Roy from Kansas. White is a great AD. I hope when Barnes chooses to retire, we are aiming at the current time top coaches to steal first and foremost. I think trying to find the next up and comer to save a buck basically leaves a decade of program building to a coin flip.

Roy is a UNC grad, he was always going to go back home if he got the chance

Most likely we will be promoting from within or hiring from the mid majors like most people have to do. Established Power 6 HCs rarely leave for anything that isn’t a blue blood or the NBA

 

[EasternVol]

Rising would mean moving to greater heights. Even Barnes staunchest of supporters would admit it’s starting to look like it’s plateauing.

Facts indicate otherwise.

 

[Delmar]

Having a program that is on autopilot to top ten seasons and the NCAAT every year compared to the Cuonzo and Donnie years is worth $5m alone.

A lot of Vol newbies don’t remember those days much less remember Wade Houston and Buzz Peterson. I do.

 

[cardvolfan]

A lot of Vol newbies don’t remember those days much less remember Wade Houston and Buzz Peterson. I do.

Yeah, I had season tickets in the Houston era, and it wasn’t pretty. I think Wade Houston was a terrific human being, but just wasn’t good as a head coach. The thing I remember standing out was Wade’s inability to get his teams to play hard. They just didn’t give it 100% every night. In my book, my biggest thing is having kids that give it everything every night. Barnes gets that. It’s refreshing to watch, even on their off nights shooting.

 

[JMSqb11]

Roy is a UNC grad, he was always going to go back home if he got the chance

Most likely we will be promoting from within or hiring from the mid majors like most people have to do. Established Power 6 HCs rarely leave for anything that isn’t a blue blood or the NBA

Yes Roy was always going to hop to go back to UNC. But coming off a natty game and Kansas offering a blank check back then, UNC was able to steal him...... I think Tennessee will spend any amount on a new coach post Barnes.... I would prefer to steal a known commodity than fall into up and comer route.

 

[DowntownVol]

Yeah, I had season tickets in the Houston era, and it wasn’t pretty. I think Wade Houston was a terrific human being, but just wasn’t good as a head coach. The thing I remember standing out was Wade’s inability to get his teams to play hard. They just didn’t give it 100% every night. In my book, my biggest thing is having kids that give it everything every night. Barnes gets that. It’s refreshing to watch, even on their off nights shooting.

Exactly. Buzz Peterson was a good guy, too, but was in way over his head trying to coach big time college hoops. I remember going to several games during that era where there couldn'tve been more than 4 or 5 thousand people in TBA.

 

[kckempf]

Rising would mean moving to greater heights. Even Barnes staunchest of supporters would admit it’s starting to look like it’s plateauing.

That cracks me up. For some reason being a top 10 team every year with a top 10 recruiting class every year and we can't seem to get better.

 

[Delmar]

Exactly. Buzz Peterson was a good guy, too, but was in way over his head trying to coach big time college hoops. I remember going to several games during that era where there couldn'tve been more than 4 or 5 thousand people in TBA.

Yep. It was a sad time for sure. I guess sell out crowds and top 10 rankings aren’t good enough for some of the morons that infest this place. Let’s fahr Rick and go back to the Wade and Buzz days. Some of these clowns deserve it.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

The debate is dumb by both sides. He's a massive successful regular season coach. Even SEC tourney coach. He's struggled to win in the NCAA tourney.

There really is no "debate"...not sure you could find more than maybe 1 or 2 posters, if that, who would not agree that CRB has to do better in the NCAA tourney. The reality is you have quite a few vocal, but in the minority, posters who b*tch about regular season losses that aren't bad losses in the Committee's eyes (except CU) while simultaneously gaslighting everyone about how regular season success doesn't matter depending on how it helps their argument to criticize. The only thing that is dumb about this dynamic is that these posters think we should get a new coach which is why they are so quick to bash CRB (and even our players at times) while NEVER saying anything that is really positive which seems to belie being a fan
.

 

[barney]

its not even his record or lack of success in the tournament that bothers me. The way he builds teams and style of play is the issue. Scoring is always secondary for him, which lowers the floor of every team he coaches.

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

A lot of Vol newbies don’t remember those days much less remember Wade Houston and Buzz Peterson. I do.

It’s a good thing SEC Network wasn’t around then. Would have been embarrassing to watch.

 

[volbound1700]

Rick Barnes just needs to come in and find someone that can coach/recruit great offensive talent and schemes. Granted, some of our focus on defense hurts our offense but our play calling, ball movement, and shooting on offense is just bad.